Your Views: Republican Party wants to go backward

Ready, set, go—backward. The “1850s Party” (aka Republican Party) is consumed with the objective of eliminating all positive legislation or constitutional provisions it doesn’t like. This reactionary party proposes to roll back or diminish the effects of the Affordable Care Act, Rowe v. Wade, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Civil Rights Act of 1964, Medicare and the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and others. If they can’t change the law, they’ll attempt to subtly chip away at its effects through craftily written legislation.

African-Americans, Latinos, women, students, disabled, seniors, military veterans and war-time handicapped will experience the effects of 1850s Party assaults and even more effects if the GOP gains a majority. This 1850s Party is not Abraham Lincoln’s party!

What to do? It’s no secret. Voters have the right to vote, period! The 1850s Party and its supporters are attempting—through intimidation, conniving, gerrymandering, ID requirements, purging the voter rolls, poll-place manipulation, outright fraud (announcing incorrect days, hours or places for voting)—to disenfranchise those deemed most likely not to vote for the 1850s Party.

University students must be intensely vigilant as a demographic group, standing to suffer through new ID requirements, decreased registration time and no same-day registration. Wisconsin is no exception because the 1850s (formerly Republican) Party-controlled Assembly is as reactionary as any and prone to disregard the wishes of even the voters electing these representatives. Don’t accept the party rhetoric until you see the actions and results!